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Quarterbacks vote on football Thursday, Jul 31, 2008 By Harry King FAYETTEVILLE - To vote on this proposition, you must be an Arkansas quarterback. The issue was which Wilson football the Razorbacks would use this fall. The clear winner was the GST model. No hanging chads. No recount. The campaign consisted of the quarterbacks throwing the GST one day and a slightly plumper ball the next day. After about a month, coach Bobby Petrino asked them to choose. Starter Casey Dick voted. So did his younger brother Nathan, Alex Mortensen, and transfer Ryan Mallett, who must be redshirted. The UA purchases footballs from Wilson, which offers two choices. The white stripes on the quarterbacks' favorite are part of the leather surface, not painted on. "So," Petrino said, "there is no slipperiness at all. That's one thing our quarterbacks liked." A promo for the ball says "laid-in composite leather stripes on this football are 82 percent more gripable (I'm not sure that's a word) than traditional painted stripes." Kickers prefer the bigger ball, but they don't vote. Besides, Petrino pointed out, Art Carmody was kicking the GST when he won the Lou Groza Award at Louisville in 2006. That year, Carmody made 21-of-25 field goals, including all five from 40 yards or more, and was perfect on 60 extra points. Under Petrino, Louisville was one of the first to use the particular football, but many other schools are now on board. Some colleges are aligned with other manufacturers and each team provides its own footballs for the games. Already, the Arkansas quarterbacks have started preparing game balls for the Aug. 30 opener. They break out 20 or so, throw them around, and set aside their favorites for the game. "They need to be broke in a little," Petrino said. "They don't like to throw a brand-new ball. It's a little harder and a little slipperier. They rub them down, they work the ball. They're picky about it, they'll pick out their favorites." He talked about the selection process over a quick lunch prior to teeing off in a four-person scramble that included his assistant coaches and the media. Petrino is supposed to be in control of everything football, but the makeup of his team would make a cynic wonder. Down in Alabama last week, Trey Schaap of radio station 103.7 The Buzz in Little Rock was talking with Petrino about the golf outing and asked the head coach if he wanted to win. Sure. Then pick me, Schaap said. Petrino asked about his handicap and then made certain that Kevin Trainor took note of the zero. Against any legitimate media competition, Schaap would do Arkansas proud on the golf course. But, Petrino's partners were an old guy, a TV man with a bad ankle, and a beat reporter who was apparently unaware of advances in golf equipment during the last 20 years. There was trade talk, but defensive coordinator Willy Robinson demanded two linebackers in exchange for Schaap. Unlike many coaches, Petrino does not try to kill the ball every time and he hit some quality shots, including a driver from the fairway on No. 2, a 5-wood from almost 200 yards onto the green at the uphill 8th, a 3-wood to the fringe from an embarrassing 220 yards on No. 16, and another wood onto the 18th green despite an awkward lie. He complimented his teammates and delighted in a give-and-take on the 15th tee. When the drink-cart driver, who works for Trainor but will remain nameless, arrived with refreshments, Petrino asked about the temperature. It's so hot, she said, "the 90-degree rule is in effect. It must be 95 or 96." For those who don't play the game, the rule cited has to do with golf carts remaining on the paths until a 90-degree turn leads to the ball. ---- Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media's Arkansas News Bureau. His e-mail address is hking@arkansasnews.com. |
